Oliver b



(N0 Modl.)

- O.B.GASTON.

. TRUNK.

No. 305,069. r Patented Sept. 16, 1884.

L I x Q0 N. PETERS. mumthn n har. Washington. ac.

' NITED rA'rEs PATENT Enron.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 305,069, dated September 16. 1884.

Application filed June 24, 1ss4. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER B. GASTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention combines two distinct and very useful objects-first,to secure the lid of a trunk when open; second, to raise, sustain, and secure the tray in an elevated position, giving free access to the tray and trunk at the same time.

My invention consists, first, of an upright projection rising above the edge of the end of the trunk, being part of or added directly onto the edge of the trunk, and having a corresponding recess in the edge of the end of the lid, or consisting of a plate adjustable at any desirable height, between slides which are secured inside of the trunk at or near the back part. Upon a pin or rivet near the top of this plate are pivotedaradius bar and brace. The

radius-bar at its other end is pivoted to the end of the tray in the neighborhood of the middle thereof. Along the upper portion of the brace runs a slot in which plays apin proj ecting inwardly from the end of the lid. A

. spring within the front edge of thelid in con junction with a notched block on the inside of the top of the lid, and with the tray, serves an important end, as will be seen.

I attain the objects of my invention by the mechanical device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which is shown an end view of a trunk, the end pieces of the lid and body being removed in order to more clearly expose the construction and operation of the device. It is understood that this device is applied to each end of the trunk, though only one is shown and described.

Letter A represents the body -of the trunk.

Letter B represents the lid of the trunk.

Letter 0 represents the tray of the trunk.

Letter D is the upright projection or proj ecting plate, the latter attached to the inside of and extending above the end of the trunk, at or near the back part.

E represents the brace or stay that secures the lid when open.

F represents the radius-bar that guides the tray while rising, and supports it at its highest position.

G represents the notched or hooked block which supports and locks the tray when elevated.

H represents a spring fastened inside of the front edge of the lid, to assist in guiding and securing the tray in its elevated position.

I represents a small boss or knob, used to lock the brace E when the lid is open.

The upright projecting plate D is secured within slides and against the end of the trunk, at or near the back part,and projects up above the edge of the trunk nearly as much as the depth ofthe lid will permit. This plate may be of any suitable shape, size, or material, as may be the slides also. Near the top of this projection or projecting plate, and secured to it, is a pin or rivet, L, upon which a brace or stay, E, is pivoted. The upper end of this brace E is slotted for some distance, the slot permitting the play of the pin M when the lid is being opened and closed. The pin M projects inwardly from the inside of the end of the lid. At the lower end of the brace E is a prolongation which springs over the boss or knob I as the lid opens or closes. It isintended to lock the brace when thelid is fully open. This boss or knob I is cast on the plate D it the latter is of cast metal, or the metal is forced or partially punched through if the metal is wrought or malleable, or the desired end is attained in any suitable way. To the pin or rivet L the radius-bar E is also pivoted,

| and at its upper end it is pivoted to the tray 0 by means of the pin K. This pin Kis fixed to a plate, which can be secured to the tray by screws or any suitable means. W'ithin thelid, and against the upper or top part, is fastened a block, G, so shaped or hooked as to catch the metal plate J, the latter being secured firmly to the back of the tray, as shown. \Vithin the front edge of the lid is secured aspring, H, which acts in conjunction with the plateJ and block G to support and lock the tray in its elevated position.

Operation: The operation consists in raising thelid to its extreme position, as shown, and looking it there automatically by means of the lower prolongation of the brace passing or springing over the boss I. Then the tray is raised by means of the handles, a backward I pressure being communicated until the radiusbar F has landed the tray within the lid. At this stage the spring H,.bearing down against the tray, guides it into place and forces the plate J down within the notch of the block G and locks the tray in position. To unlock the tray preparatory to replacing it, press downward on the front part of the tray, so as to raise the plateJ clear of the notch in G. Then, by pulling forward, the radius-bars will naturally lower and guide the tray into its place, the Weight being partially sustained by the handles.

2. The combination of the upright proj ection or adjustable projecting plate D, the slotted brace E, with the bodyA and lid B, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the upright projection or adjustable projecting plate D, the slotted brace E, and the radius-bar F, with the body A and lid B and tray 0, all substantially as specified, and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of the spring H, the hooked block G, and plate J, with the tray 0, all as specified, for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the spring H, the hooked block G, the plate J, the tray 0, the radius-bar F, the braceE, and the upright projection or projecting plate D, all substantially as specified, and for the purposes set forth.

OLIVER B. GASTON.

WVitnesses:

WM. THoMPsoN, EDWD. L. TELLON. 

